Multistate modelling of probability of on-treatment clinical response and time remaining in response in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with brodalumab or ustekinumab in the AMAGINE-2 and -3 studies.

Background: Relative changes in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) are used as outcomes in psoriasis clinical trials but are limited when analysing long-term data and in routine practice. Absolute PASI may be more clinically useful.

Objectives: To develop and implement a methodology for assessing the probability of achieving and maintaining a “response” in patients with psoriasis, defined using absolute PASI.

Safety of Brodalumab in Plaque Psoriasis: Integrated Pooled Data from Five Clinical Trials.

Brodalumab is approved for treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Here, we assess the safety profile of brodalumab using pooled safety data from 5 phase II/III trials of brodalumab 140 mg or 210 mg. In total, 4,464 patients received brodalumab, representing 8,891.

Effect of grass sublingual tablet immunotherapy is similar in children and adults: A Bayesian approach to design pediatric sublingual immunotherapy trials.

Background: Large sample sizes are needed for sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) trials because of inherent data variability secondary to inconsistent allergen exposure. Obtaining large sample sizes for pediatric SLIT trials is challenging, but a Bayesian approach using prior adult data can reduce the necessary sample size.

Objective: We sought to describe how a Bayesian framework using prior information from adult trials can be used to improve pediatric SLIT clinical development.

Estimation of health-related utility (EQ-5D index) in subjects with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to evaluate health gain associated with sublingual grass allergen immunotherapy.

Background: Grass allergen immunotherapy (AIT) reduces symptom severity in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) but its impact on general health-related utility has not been characterised for the purposes of economic evaluation. The aim of this study was to model the preferred measure of utility, EQ-5D index, from symptom severity and estimate incremental quality adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with SQ-standardised grass immunotherapy tablet (GRAZAX®, 75,000 SQ-T/2,800 BAU, ALK, Denmark).

Methods: Data were analysed from five consecutive pollen seasons in a randomised placebo controlled trial of GRAZAX®.

Workforce gender, company size and corporate financial support are predictors of availability of healthy meals in Danish worksite canteens.

Objective: Environmental strategies at worksites may help consumers change dietary behaviour towards a more healthy diet. The present study aimed to evaluate the availability of healthy meal options at Danish worksite canteens and to identify predictors of worksite canteens providing healthy meals.

Design: A self-administered questionnaire was randomly mailed to 1967 worksite canteen managers.

Prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Denmark.

Aim: To study the current prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Denmark from 1995 to 2000-2002.

Methods: Cross-sectional national dietary surveys were conducted in 1995 and 2000-2002. The analysis was based on two random population samples from the Danish civil registration system.

Antimicrobial drug resistance of Salmonella isolates from meat and humans, Denmark.

We compared 8,144 Salmonella isolates collected from meat imported to or produced in Denmark, as well as from Danish patients. Isolates from imported meat showed a higher rate of antimicrobial drug resistance, including multidrug resistance, than did isolates from domestic meat. Isolates from humans showed resistance rates lower than those found in imported meat but higher than in domestic meat.

Estimating the number of undetected multi-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 infected pig herds in Denmark.

In Denmark, the detection of multi-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 (MRDT104)-infected pig herds relies on the national Salmonella surveillance programme at the farm and slaughterhouse levels of production. With the surveillance sampling protocol and the diagnostic methods currently used, some herds might remain undetected. The number of undetected Danish pig herds infected with MRDT104 in the period 1 August 2001-31 July 2002 was estimated and compared with the number of culture-confirmed detected herds.

Principles, application areas and an example of risk assessment conducted at the Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research.

The Department for Epidemiology and Risk Analysis at the Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research (DFVF) is concerned with risk analyses in the areas of food safety, zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) list A and B diseases. The DFVF is responsible for the risk assessment component of the risk analysis process and provides advice and support for the risk management and risk communication component, which is generally under the auspices of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA). The paper presents guidelines for the conduct of risk assessments at the DFVF.

Risk factors associated with faecal shedding of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 in eight known-infected Danish dairy herds.

A risk-factor study was performed in eight dairy herds found to excrete verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 in a former prevalence study. Associations between excretion of VTEC O157 and management factors such as housing and feeding were analysed in a generalised linear mixed model. The animals were stratified in three age groups and sampled four times during 1 year.

Association between the porcine Escherichia coli F18 receptor genotype and phenotype and susceptibility to colonisation and postweaning diarrhoea caused by E. coli O138:F18.

Porcine postweaning Escherichia coli enteritis is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in pigs worldwide, and effective prevention remains an unsolved problem. This study examined the correlation between susceptibility of pigs to experimental infection with an E. coli F18 strain and the porcine intestinal F18 receptor genotypes.

Impact of integrated fish farming on antimicrobial resistance in a pond environment.

Integrated fish farming combines livestock production with fish farming. Animal manure is shed directly into a fish pond as fertilizer and supports the growth of photosynthetic organisms. The livestock, mainly chickens and pigs, is often fed feed containing growth promoters.